In the past, many have considered the production and use of hydrogen, assuming that it is just another gaseous fuel and can be handled much like natural gas in today's energy economy. With this study we present an analysis of the energy required to operate an elemental hydrogen economy, with particular reference to road transport. High-grade electricity from renewable or nuclear sources is needed not only to generate hydrogen, but also for all the other essential stages. However, because of the molecular structure of hydrogen, the infrastructure is much more energy-intensive than in an oil and natural gas economy.In a "Hydrogen Economy" the hydrogen, like any other commercial product, is subject to several stages between production and use. Hydrogen has to be packaged by compression or liquefaction, transported by surface vehicles or pipelines, stored, and transferred to the end user. Whether generated by electrolysis or by chemistry, and even if produced locally at filling stations, the gaseous or liquid hydrogen has to undergo these market processes before it can be used by the customer. Hydrogen can also be derived chemically at relatively low cost from natural gas or other hydrocarbons. However, because there are no energetic or environmental advantages, we do not consider this option.In this study, the energy consumed by each stage is related to the true energy content-the higher heating value (HHV)-of the delivered hydrogen. The analysis reveals that much more energy is needed to operate a hydrogen economy than is required for fossil energy supply and distribution today. In fact, the input of electrical energy to make, package, transport, store and transfer hydrogen may easily exceed the hydrogen Downloaded by [University of Newcastle, Australia] at 16:42 27 December 2014 30 Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Journal energy delivered to the end user-implying a well-to-tank efficiency of less than 50%. However, precious energy can be saved by packaging hydrogen chemically in a synthetic liquid hydrocarbon like methanol or ethanol. To decouple energy use from global warming, the use of "geocarbons" from fossil sources should be avoided. However, carbon atoms from biomass, organic waste materials or recycled carbon dioxide could become the carriers for hydrogen atoms. Furthermore, energy intensive electrolysis may be partially replaced by the less energy intensive chemical transformation of water and carbon to natural and synthetic hydrocarbons, including bio-methanol and bio-ethanol. Hence, the closed natural hydrogen (water) cycle and the closed natural carbon (CO 2 ) cycle may be used to produce synthetic hydrocarbons for a post-fossil fuel energy economy. As long as the carbon comes from the biosphere ("bio-carbon"), the synthetic hydrocarbon economy would be far better than the elemental hydrogen economy-both energetically and thus environmentally.
The establishment of a sustainable energy future is one of the most pressing tasks of mankind. With the exhaustion of fossil resources the energy economy will change from a chemical to an electrical base. This transition is one of physics, not one of politics. However, proven technology and existing engineering experience come in useful. Actions must be taken soon to start a transition process which will take many years to complete.Unfortunately, politics seems to listen to the advice of visionaries [1], lobby groups and environmental activists, all presenting qualitative arguments, hardly ever based on facts and physics. A secure sustainable energy future cannot be founded on shaky arguments, hype and activism, but has to be built on solid grounds of established science and engineering. This article is in part a response to false claims of hydrogen promoters. Although most qualitative claims are correct, in total they do not properlv consider some fundamental laws of physics. in particular, the energy conservation principle. Hydrozen is not a new energy, but only an artificial svnthetic energy camer. It has to be made from high grade energy like electricity or natural gas. Before the technology of a hydrogen economy is developed or implemented. some fundamental question needs to be addressed. Where does the energy come from to be delivered to the consumer in the form of hydrogen? How much energy is lost in the hydrogen distribution system? Are there other ways to bring the energy to the people? How much of the original energy is needed to satisfy the energy needs of society?These questions have been studied in detail [2]. This publication builds on the results of this energy analysis of a hydrogen economy. It translates the results into a wider perspective and draws conclusions that are devastating for a hydrogen economy. A hydrogen economy will never make sense. The Sustainable Energy FutureTwo postulates need to be satisfied to make the energy system sustainable.
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